Improvement in track-clearers for mowing-machines



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

BENJAMIN F. POWER, OF MOCONNELLSVILLE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR 'IO HUGH M. COCHRAN AND JOSEPH F. SONNANSTINE.

IMPROVEMENT IN TRACK-CLEARERS FOR MOWlNG-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 111,08 3, dated January 17, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. POWER, of McConnellsville, Morgan county, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Spiral-Armed Revolving Track-Cleaner for Mowing-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a cutterbar with my improved revolving trackclearer attached. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of my improved clearer-head, showing the oscillating attachment. Fig. 3 is a face view of the head, showing the holes for introducing and holding the spiral arms.

The object of my invention is to secure a simple, cheap,and convenientdevice for clearing the track ot' a mowing-machine on that side next the standing grass, so that on the return of the machine the cut grass will not become entangled in the inside shoe, to which the cutter-bar is attached, and choke Ithe shoe and knife.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the manner in which I have carried it out.

In the said drawing, A is the head of my improved clearer, to which are securely attached the spiral arms a a. These arms are made spiral, and constructed of wood or metal, and'when attached to the head A they represent the threads of a screw, so curved as to pass from half to the entire way around the circle described by all the arms taken together, as shown in Fig. 1.

The spiral arms a a may be made square, round, or of any other desirable shape.

'Ihe head is shaped as shown in Fig. 1, with projections c c, also curving to correspond with the curves of the arms a a, for the purpose of aiding the revolvingY motion of the cleaner.

The central opening through the head A.l as shown at e e in Fig. 27 is peculiar in charaeter, and admits of the swivel Ehaving sut'- ficient room to secure a free oscillating motion to the head A, While the angle of opening at the smaller end of the head A (shown by the dotted lines m fm) causes my cleaner to become self-adjustable when in actual use,and forms, as near as may be, a right angle with the cutter-bar.

I construct afull-sized track-cleaner with the smaller end of the head, or that which is next to the cutter-bar, from two to three inches in diameter, and the larger or opposite end, into which are inserted the spiral arms, from four to six inches in diameter.

It is evident that a track-cleaner thus constructed with spiral-shaped arms, when in practical operation in rear of the cutter-bar, and lying upon the ground and on stubble, will necessarily and surely revolve from the standing grass, and by thus revolving will throwthe cut grass away from that which is standing, so as to leave the track clean for the return of the machine, and thus prevent the inside shoe, to which the cutter-bar is attached, from gathering the cut grass and choking the shoe and knife.

It is also evident that my track-cleaner, it' uninfluenced by the standing grass, would follow with its center line at right angles to the cutter-bar; but the pressure of the standing grass against the cleaner is such as to keep its outer line at right angles to the cutter-bar, while the inner line forms an acute angle.

If any serious obstacle presents itself to the cleaner on its inner line, it is evident the cleaner will swing outward against the standing grass until the obstacle is passed, when it will again adjust itself to a proper position.

The oscillating attachment E, Fig. 2, is secured to the .head A by means of the pin or screw-head h and washer t', and to the shoe p, (see Fig. 1,) on the outer end of the cutterbar, by means ot' the Aflattened headplate n and pin s. Y

I am aware that revolving track-cleaners have been made with spiral arms and hinged at an acute angle, such as is represented in the patent to Rufus Dutton, dated March 19. 1861, and therefore I do not claim, broadly, a revolving spiral-armed track-cleaner but What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The laterally and vertically oscillating head A, constructed as described, in combination with the spiral arms a a and swivel E, substantially as and for the purpose described.

BENJAMIN F. POWER.

Witnesses:

JAs. M. GAYLORD,

F. E. SEEPARD. 

